Automatic door bottom



May 5, 1942 w. E. BALoUsEK AUTOMATIC DOORVBOTTOM Filed Aug. 7, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 um a bv/m 1%.@ A ,4L @a May 5, 1942 w. E. BALoUsEK2,282,019

AUTOMATIC DOOR BOTTOM Filed Aug. 7, 1959 2 sheets-sheet? Patented May 5,1942 FICE AUTOMATIC DQOR BOTTOM William E. Balousek, Hinsdale, Ill.,assigner to W. J. Dennis & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application August 7, 1939, Serial No. 288,823

(Cl. Ztl-63) 5 Claims.

The invention relates generally to weather strips, and more particularlyto weather strips for use on the bottom of doors or other similarclosures.

The invention has among its objects the construction of such a weatherstrip -which is simple in construction, efcient in operation `andrelatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another very important object of the invention is the production lof aweather strip which is so constructed that leakage of air issubstantially eliminated, at the same time providing a device which willwork easily and smoothly with a minimum of friction.

Another object of the invention is the construction of such a device inwhich the sealing element may lbe described as floating, it being freeto move longitudinally, thus allowing it to readily adjust itself tocompensate for irregularities in the floor surface.

A further object of the vinvention is to the production of a device ofthe kind described employing novel means for securing the actuatingrmember to the device and in other various details of construction aswill be hereinafter described.

Many other objects and advantages yof the construction herein shown anddescribed Will lbe obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view 'through the housing of thedevice, showing the door in open position, the sealing element beingshown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the door in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device at theend thereof adjacent the hinged edge of the door;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional yView taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig.1, showing the actuating rod in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the housing, showing theconstruction thereof;

Fig. 7 is asimilar perspective view of a portion of the sealing member;

Fig. 8 is a similar viewof the actuating mechanism andvend plate;

kin these devices has been the relatively great amount of leakage of airaround the sealing element. Variousmeans have been employed to eliminatethis condition, but these have had the disadvantage of increasing thefrictional resistl ance of the sealing element in the housing.

In the present device, the sealing element is free to move into and outof engagement with the floor as the door is opened or closed, but due toits interlocking construction as will hereinafter be described, passageof air around the sealing element is substantially eliminated.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 6, '7 and 8, it will benoted that the form illustrated comprises a housing I having side walls2 and 3, respectively Iconnected by a top portion 4 to form a structurehaving a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section. lThe side Wall 2terminates in an outwardly extending flange 5, while extending from thelower edge of the side wall 3 is an inwardly extending partition or wall6, the latter being spaced from the side wall 3 to form a narrow channelI therebetween. The sealing element designated generally by the numeralI I consists of a strip of yfelt I2 or other 'i suitable material whichis carried by the member I3, the strip I2 being clamped by the U-shapeclportion I4 of the member I3, while the upper portion of the member isbent back upon itself to provide the wall I5 to form a narrow channel I6similar to the channel 'I.

As shown in Fig. 4, the device is assembled with the walls 6 and I5positioned in the channels I6 and 1, respectively, the two members beinginterlocked with one another so that the only way that they may -beseparated is by drawing the one longitudinally from the other. It will`be noted that air leaking through the device would have to pass alongthe open face of the partition wall 6 of the housing around the edgethereof, down between the inner face of the wall I5 up between the outerface of the wall I5 between the same and the inner face of the side wall3 and down between the side wall 2 and the adjacent face of the U-shapedportion Ill of the member I3. It will be apparent that at al1 timesthere will be one or more contacting surfaces between the walls 2, 3, 6,I4 and I5 and as the leakage path is comparatively long, little if anyair will pass through the device. Obviously, the sealing element II isfree to move in the housing. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and '1, themember I3 is provided with a pair of rollers I1 and I8 carried bysuitable studs I9 riveted to the member I3 directly above the U-shapedportion I4, the wall I having apertures 29 positioned directly oppositethe rivets I9 so that both sides of the rivet are accessible duringmounting. A similar roller 2I is carried from the inner wall of thehousing I as is a guide stud 22, the side wall 3 of the housing alsobeing provided with oppositely disposed apertures, similar to theapertures 29 and serving the same purpose.

As shown in Fig. 8, a at spring or tape 23 is provided, the latterhaving one end thereof secured to a rod 24, the end of the latter beingflattened as shown at 25 to receive the end of the spring which issecured thereto by rivets 25 or other suitable means. The rod 24 isthreaded in an adjusting member 21, the end 28 of which extends throughthe end bracket 29. A coil spring 3I is secured at one end to thebracket 29 and at the other to the rod 24. As shown in Fig. 3, thelatter end of the spring is coiled around the rod at 32, the oppositeend passing through the eye 33 formed from the end bracket 29. The end28 of the member 21 is of smaller diameter than the remainder of themember forming a shoulder 34, the latter adapted to seat on the innerface of the end bracket 29 to limit the outward movement of the member.The end bracket 29 is secured to the housing adjacent the end thereof atthe hinged edge of the door, the rod 2'4 extending between the guidestud 22 and the top portion 4, the spring tape 23 passing over theroller 2I and between the rollers I1 and I3 on the member I3, with thefree end of the spring secured to the housing.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 10, the housing is provided with an inwardlyextending portion 35. This is formed by laterally cutting the housingand bending the same inwardly between a pair of cuts. The spring tape 23as shown in Fig. l0, passes through the guide eye formed by the portion35 and the housing. Extending between the spring 23 and the top portion4 of the housing and also passing over the portion 33 is a bronze strip31. The latter is secured to the top portion 4 by means of a rivet 38and acts as a bearing surface for the spring 23, particularly one of therivets 25. The top portion 4 is also provided with the portions 39, 4Iand 42 similar to the portion 33 and formed in a similar manner toprovide guides for the spring 23. The portion 42 is smaller in widththan the portions 36, 39 or 4I and forms a smaller eye adapted toreceive the narrow tongue 43 at the end 35 of the spring. Adjacent thetongue 43 in the end of the spring is a sm-all hole 44, the latter beingadapted to receive a lug 45 punched from the top 4 of the housing, orother suitable means for locking the end ci the spring in operativeposition.

The end bracket 29, as shown, is constructed from sheet metal or othersuitable material and is provided with two inwardly extending flanges 46from which extend tongues 41. After the bracket is inserted in thehousing I, the tongues 41 are bent outwardly through apertures 43 inboth side walls 2 and 3, after which the tongues are bent back towardsthe bracket whereby the walls of the housing are securely clampedbetween the tongues 41 and the flanges 46. The upper portion 49 of thebracket is provided with a hole 5I for insertion of a mounting screw 52.This bracket serves several purposesinst it maintains the housing at theproper width, aligns the adjustment rod 21 and holds the end of thespring 3I. It also forms a simple means for further securing the housingto the door.

The device illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is assembled as follows:

rIhe sealing element II consisting of the felt strip I2 and member I3 isinserted longitudinally into the housing I, the portion I5 beinginserted between the partition wall 5 and the side wall 3' of thehousing, as shown in Fig. 4. The actuating assembly shown in Fig. 8 isthen inserted in the housing, the spring tape 23 and rod 24 passingbetween the guide stud 22' and the top portion 4 of the housing. Thespring 23 is then lnserted between the bronze strip 31 and the portion36 of the housing as shown in Fig. 10. To facilitate this last step, awork hole 53 is provided in the side wall 2 adjacent the portion 36through which by means of a suitable tool, the end 35 of the spring 23may be guided into proper position; The spring then is inserted betweenthe rollers I1 and I8, the spring passing over the roller I8 and underthe roller I1. Another work hole 54 is provided in the top portion 4 ofthe housing directly above the rollers I1 and I8. The end 35 of thespring is then drawn through the apertures or eyes formed by theportions 39 and 4I, with the tongue 43 resting upon the portion 42 asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be noted that when the tongue 43 isinserted into its furthermost position, the shoulder 55 will engage thehousing adjacent the portion 42. When the end of the spring has reachedthe above position, the lug 45 is bent downwardly through the hole 44 inthe end of the spring, thereby securely locking the end of the spring tothe housing. The device is secured to a door or other closure byinserting the same in a channel 56 formed in the bottom edge of the doorand is held in place by means of nails 51 or other suitable meanspassing through the flange 5 into the door. The end bracket 29 is set inthe side edge of the door and secured thereto by the screw 52, thebracket being inset so that the outer face thereof is ush with the edgeof the door. A plain end plate 29 may be secured to the opposite edge ofthe door by a screw 52 to conceal the end of the channel 56. The lowerend of this plate may be bent inwardly along the bottom edge of the doorand nailed thereto as shown at 30 in Fig, 1. 'I'he adjusting member 21is then rotated by means of a screwdriver or the like inserted in theslot 58 until the total length of the spring 23, rod 24 and the member21 is that required to give the most satisfactory results. Obviously, byshortening or lengthening these members, the downward movement of thesealing element II may be readily controlled. It might be added that theend of the member I3 adjacent the end bracket 29 may be cut away asshown at 59 in Figs. 5 and '7, the partition wall 6 also being shorteneda corresponding distance so that the ears 41 on the end bracket may bereadily secured to the side 3 of the housing.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 11, the adjustment member 21 iseliminated as is the spring 3|. The end of the rod 24 is extendedthrough the bracket 29, as shown at 24', and is engageable with the doorjamb. Instead of the screw 6I, an adjustable stop somewhat similar tothat described in my Patent Number 2,022,930 is utilized. This comprisesa cup-like casing or housing 62 in which pressure member or stop 63 isslidably carried, a compression springd urging the stop 63 outwardly,the latter being provided with a screw threaded shank 65 and a nut 66for preventing the stop -from coming out of the housing. By turning thestop 63 with a screwdriver or other suitable tool placed in the slot 61adjustment relative the end of the rod 24 can be made, the nut beingprevented from turning by suitable shoulders 68 formed on the housing orother means, said shoulders preventing rotation of the nut, but allowingit to slide between them. The spring 64 is relatively stiff so thatengagement of the end of the rod with the head of the screw will operatethe Weather strip. However, when the Weather strip has been firmlyengaged with the floor surface, the spring will give and move inwardlywith the end of the rod 24, if such action should take place.

In operation the device will normally assume the position shown in Fig.1, the door being in open position, with the sealing element II drawnwithin the housing out of contact with the floor surface. It will remainin this position until the door has been closed sufficiently to allowthe end 28 of the member 2l to engage the face of the door jamb. Thelatter is preferably provided with a screw BI, the head of which ispositioned to engage the end 2B of the member 2T and thereby preventmarring of the door jamb by the same. Instead of the screw 6I a largetack or otherwise suitably formed element may be employed. When the end28 engages the screw 6I, it will move the member 21 inwardly until itwill iinally reach the position shown in Fig. 2. As the end 35 of thespring 23 is secured to the housing, the spring will buckle as shown inFig. 2 and will exert pressure on the roller I3, thereby forcing thesealing element II down into engagement with the floor surface. Uponopening of the door, the spring will again assume the position shown inFig. 1 and by means of its engagement with the roller I'I, will carrythe sealing element II up into the housing. It will be noted that thesealing element II is not connected to the spring 23, but is merelyactuated by the same by engagement thereof with either the roller II orthe roller I8. As the element is not connected to the spring, it mightbe termed floating in the housing and free to readily adjust itself tocompensate for irregularities in the floor surface. Likewise, as thepressure of the spring is exerted downwardly at only one point, namely,upon the roller I8, the pressure will be uniformly distributedthroughout the length of the sealing element. It will be noted thatneither the rod nor the adjacent end of the spring comes into contactwith the upper portion 4 of the housing, all frictional contact takingplace on the bronze strip 3l. As the inner end of the spring 3| islooped about the rod 24 and engages the end of the member 2l, theadjustment between the same will be readily maintained and the member 21will be prevented from rotating relative the rod except when manuallyadjusted. As previously mentioned, due to the interlocking constructionof the sealing element and the housing, air leakage through the housingwill be reduced to a minimum, there always being frictional contactbetween two or more of the adjacent surfaces of the side wall 3,partition wall 6 and the walls of the member I`3. The interlockingconstruction alsoforms guiding means for the sealing element insuringvertical movement of the element and preventing lateral movement thereofin the housing. Likewise, I have provided a door check in which thesealing element is substantially floating in its housing so that it willreadily align 'itself and eii'lciently seal the door. While the deviceillustrated is shown as being mounted in a channel in 'the lower edge ofthe door or other closure member, obviously vthe device would be readilyadapted for mounting on the face o'f the door adjacent the lower edgethereof.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence I do not Wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a weather strip, the combination of an inverted U-shaped housing,and an end plate positioned adjacent an end of said housing, the latterhaving a plurality of apertures therein, said plate having flangesextending therefrom positioned adjacent the side Walls of said housing,said flanges being spaced from the edges of said plate to form shouldersthereon engageable with the supporting member on which the strip ismounted and a tongue carried by each flange extending through theapertures in said housing and parallel with said side walls to securesaid plate thereto.

2. In a weather strip, the combination of a supporting member, a sealingelement carried by said member, and a tape operatively engageable withsaid element and at one end with actuating means therefor, said tapehaving a tongue adjacent the opposite end thereof to form a shoulder,said tongue passing through a projecting portion of said member withsaid shoulder butting thereagainst, said tape having an aperture thereinadjacent the end thereof, and means carried by said member positioned insaid aperture to lock said tape to said member.

3. In a weather strip, the combination of a housing, a sealing elementcarried by said housing, and a tape operatively engageable with saidelement and at one end with actuating means therefor, said tape having atongue adjacent its free end to form a shoulder, the end of said tapepassing through inwardly extending portions of the housing with saidshoulder butting against one of said inwardly extending portions, saidtape having an aperture therein intermediate said inwardly extendingportions and a portion of said housing positioned in said aperture tolock said tape to said housing.

4. In a weather strip, the combination of a housing of invertedsubstantially U-shaped crosssection comprising a top portion and sidewalls extending downwardly therefrom, one of said side walls terminatingin an outwardly extending ange, the other side wall terminating in aninwardly extending portion and a partition wall extending upwardly fromsaid last mentioned portion, and spaced from said second side wall toform a relatively narrow channel therebetween, a sealing elementpositioned in said housing having downwardly extending walls positionedon opposite sides of said partition wall with one of said walls in saidchannel, said element engageable with the surface to be sealed, andactuating means carried by the housing and operatively connected withthe wall of said element positioned exteriorly said channel for rnovingsaid sealing element into and out of operative engagement with saidsurface.

5. In a weather strip, the combination of a housing comprising a topportion and side walls extending downwardly therefrom, one of said sidewalls terminating in an outwardly extending flange, the other side wallterminating in an ine wardly extending portion and a partition 'wallextending upwardly from said last mentioned portion and spaced from saidsecond side wall to form a relatively narrow channel therebetween, amember carried in said housing having downwardly extending wallspositioned on opposite sides of said partition wall, with one of saidwalls in said channel, the other Wall terminating in an invertedU-shaped portion, a strip of suitable material carried in said U-shapedportion and engageable with the surface to be sealed, and actuatingmeans carried by the housing for moving said member to operativelyengage or disengage said strip with the surface t0 be sealed.

WILLIAM E. BALOUSEK.

